Everything You Need To Know To Replace Your Fireplace Curtain With Glass Doors

Your fireplace should be the heart of your home, seamlessly tying together the aesthetic of your living space while letting your curated furniture and decor shine. Whether it's a freestanding fireplace that keeps things cozy in the winter or a dramatic tiled mantle that grabs your attention, everything should match your home's unique aesthetic. But what about the various fireplace accessories that enhance its functionality, like keeping soot contained? If your fireplace relies on a simple mesh curtain, it might be time for a sleek upgrade. A modern glass alternative not only offers a more streamlined look, but it can also be more effective at containing soot and debris that might escape from your fireplace. Replacing an old fireplace curtain is a much simpler task than you might think, and can quickly transform your dated fireplace into a timeless centerpiece.

Parting with your mesh fireplace curtain isn't all about the aesthetic; in fact, it can have dramatic benefits on your home throughout the seasons. For starters, switching to glass doors can increase the safety of your fireplace, creating an effective barrier against stray logs, embers, and soot. Mesh curtains can be an effective means at protecting your space, but they leave room for potential mishaps. Additionally, glass fireplace doors can be a far more pet- and child-friendly upgrade, stopping curious onlookers from accidentally hurting themselves on an active fire. Beyond safety, glass doors are known for being energy efficient, working to stop heat and cold air from escaping. With a simple upgrade, you can quickly reap the benefits of fireplace glass, and the installation is far from complicated.

Ensuring a snug fit is the most important step in the installation of fireplace glass and it starts with the proper measurements. If you have a stock fireplace, the process is fairly simple, only requiring two measurements — the height and width. However, for the best results, you should be taking three measurements per metric, meaning three for height at the left, center, and right of your fireplace. Do the same for the width of the fireplace, measuring across the opening. The smallest numbers of each set of three will be the final measurements for the entire fireplace. In doing so, your fireplace glass should fit tightly within the fireplace opening and allow for the best possible insulation.

With those measurements, you need to determine which type of fireplace glass you're going to install, whether it's interior or exterior fit doors. Interior fireplace doors require precise measurements to avoid gaps upon installation, as they need to sit securely in your fireplace opening. For an exterior fit, the measurements are a bit more flexible, as the frame overlaps the face of your fireplace. Although exterior fit doors might seem like a better option, they can bring several challenges for most homeowners. If your fireplace is built using natural stones over traditional masonry, the variations in size and shape can make an exterior fit extremely difficult. It can result in gaps, poor insulation, and safety hazards. When choosing which type of fireplace glass, you need to ensure that you are accounting for these variations to pick the right one for your home.

Before you can install your fresh set of glass doors, you will first need to remove the old mesh curtain and the framework holding it in place. Most fireplace curtains are situated on a track at the top of your fireplace opening, held in place by a few sheet metal screws. To remove the curtain, all you need to do is remove the screws with either a drill or a screwdriver. Take this opportunity to give your fireplace a proper, thorough cleaning, removing excess soot and debris from the entryway. You also want to measure the opening of your fireplace to ensure that your glass door kit will fit securely in place of your mesh curtain.

Installing your glass doors is a bit more complicated than removing the mesh curtain. Start by attaching your clamps to the back of your framework. These screws will secure the doors to the lintel bar at the top of the fireplace opening. Adjust the clamps to fit the exact measurements of your fireplace. On the bottom of your fireplace, mark and drill lead holes for your anchors, which secure the framework to the ground. Once the lead anchors are inserted, you will want to insulate the backside of your doors, ensuring that you wear gloves. Tighten the screws on the floor and the lintel clamps to the measurements of your fireplace. With your new glass doors installed, enjoy enhanced safety, improved heat retention, and a sleek, modern look that helps you style a fireplace in any room.